Whether it’s about a celebrity, a politician, a natural disaster or an ongoing war, News can captivate readers. The most important stories get top placement in newspaper headlines and are a priority for 24-hour news stations. When writing a News article, a writer needs to know their audience and understand what makes a good news story. It’s also important to check facts before publishing, as incorrect information can damage a publication and the credibility of an individual writer.
The News Manual has definitions for what is and isn’t newsworthy – here are some examples:
People are interested in other people – famous men and women who are in the public eye, their private lives, scandals and achievements make interesting news. The health of society is another focus – hospitals, medical research, diseases and drugs are all topics which interest the news media. Sex also makes news if it involves behaviour that goes outside generally accepted social standards.
Events which are new are considered to be newsworthy, unless they are so unusual that the public cannot possibly have been aware of them. For example, a man walking to work, getting off the bus and going inside to his house is not newsworthy because it is not unusual. However, if the man was a former dictator who died at home while eating a dinner with his wife and family, then this would be newsworthy. The same applies to a famous person dying unexpectedly or an event that has never happened before, such as a new discovery or invention.
